A Local’s Guide to The Ring Chongqing and Muguang Forest
I live fairly close to The Ring, so I end up going there almost every month. By now, it’s one of the places in Chongqing I know best.
You might have seen it dubbed as Chongqing’s rainforest mall, and that’s because of Muguang Forest, the multi-level indoor green space right at its center.
If you want to see a more modern side of Chongqing, or you’re looking for somewhere easy to reach, protected from the heat and rain, good for photos, and convenient for a casual food stop, The Ring works well for a half-day visit.
When to Go
The Ring is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, but last entry for both the mall and Muguang Forest is at 9:30 PM.
Getting There
I used to drive here every time, but after trying the metro on my latest visit, I’d recommend taking it instead.
Take Line 5 to Chongguang Station and leave through Exit 1. From there, you can enter The Ring directly, without walking around outside or worrying too much about the weather. The entrance itself is also well designed, so it’s worth a quick photo stop before you head further in.
How to Explore The Ring
After leaving Exit 1, take two escalators and you’ll reach B1. This is where you’ll find the entrance to Muguang Forest（沐光森林）, the indoor green space inside the mall.
It’s free to enter, but you’ll need to scan a WeChat QR code on-site to reserve a slot. If you don’t have WeChat, just ask a staff member near the entrance for help.
1.Scan the QR code below through WeChat. If it’s your first time using this mini program, WeChat may ask for permission to sign you in. Just allow it to continue with your WeChat account.
2.Tap “沐光森林预约” to enter the reservation page.
3.From there, select “B1沐光森林植物园”, choose your entry time and the number of visitors, then tap “完成预约”.
4.A visitor notice will pop up next. Tap the green “同意” button to agree. After that, another pop-up will appear — tap the green “查看预约” button, and WeChat will take you to a new page.
5.On that new page, tap the QR code icon. This will open your entry QR code. When you arrive at the entrance, scan this QR code at the gate machine to enter Muguang Forest.
If you’re visiting during a busy season and are worried that the slots may fill up, search for the WeChat mini program “The Ring光环” and book in advance.
B1 is the best level for close-up views. The plants, walkways, and layered structure are all concentrated here, and the displays change every season.
When I visited this time, The Ring was celebrating its fifth anniversary, and they had added a large mechanical sailing ship to the forest area. It made the space feel richer and more interesting to photograph.
On L1 and L2, you’ll find suspended walkways that don’t require a reservation.
From here, you can look down over Muguang Forest. Look up, and you’ll see the “floating forest” made up of eight trees.
Outside the glass wall, you’ll also see Shanshan (闪闪), a giant 15-meter-tall squirrel sculpture leaning against the building as if it’s curiously peeking inside. It was created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, best known for his Rubber Duck installation.
The best full-view photo angle I found this time was on L3, right next to the DQ ice cream shop. It’s easy to miss, but it gives you a better view of the whole space than shooting only from B1.
Tip: If you’re carrying a lot of stuff, there are luggage lockers on B1. Drop your bags there first so you can explore hands-free.
What to Eat
For me, a trip to The Ring usually includes a stop at Chayan Yuese (茶颜悦色), the Changsha-born milk tea chain on B1, near the Muguang Forest exit.
Chayan Yuese first became popular in Changsha, where you’ll find shops all over the city. It only started expanding into Chongqing in the past couple of years, so if you haven’t tried it before, this is an easy stop to add to your visit.
My personal favorite is the Youlan Latte (幽兰拿铁). It has a layer of whipped cream and crushed pecans on top, with a base of Ceylon black tea and fresh milk. It tastes clean and refreshing, and it isn’t overly sweet.
There’s also a bakery called Shumai Guwu (菽麦谷屋) on the outdoor pedestrian street, behind Shanshan. Their signature item is the Hupi Duoduo (虎皮多多), but I also like their Xiangcong Haitai Juan (香葱海苔卷), a scallion-and-seaweed bread roll.
